In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the IMRO was one of national liberation movements operating within the Ottoman Empire. Later on, the movement was considered to be a pro-Bulgarian force in Macedonia.

Following the First World War, the movement gained a reputation as a terrorist group with the goal of expanding Macedonia at the expense of Greece and Serbia/Yugoslavia.

In the 1990s, two right-wing parties emerged out of this movement’s heritage: “VMRO” in Bulgaria and “VMRO-DPMNE” in Macedonia.

In his address on 23 October 2010, the President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov said:
“Yes, on this day these six men have established the first All Macedonian Organization, the Organization that over the years changed its name, but in all of its names two adjectives remained: "Macedonian" and "revolutionary". Therefore, on this day, now a national holiday, we celebrate and worship the work of these six Prometheuses. We celebrate the Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle.”